Shield AI · 1 day ago
Principal Engineer, Aircraft Thermal (R4353)
San Diego, CA
Full-time
Onsite
Lead/Staff
$194K/yr - $291K/yr
12+ years expShield AI is a venture-backed deep-tech company focused on protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. The Principal Aircraft Thermal Engineer will lead thermal analysis and characterization efforts for unmanned aerial vehicles, guiding teams to deliver robust thermal solutions that meet aerospace requirements.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)Autonomous VehiclesDronesMachine LearningNational Security
Responsibilities
Lead thermal analysis and characterization efforts for unmanned aerial vehicle aircraft-level thermal systems
Architect and validate analytical, numerical, and computational models for heat transfer and fluid flow using hand calculations, finite difference methods, and CFD tools such as FloEFD
Provide leadership in trade studies, system architecture decisions, requirements generation, and technical risk assessments
Define and oversee test planning, instrumentation, and data analysis to correlate models with experimental results
Mentor and guide cross-disciplinary teams in applying thermal/fluid fundamentals
Communicate technical findings through executive-level briefings, design reviews, and technical reports
Proactively identify program risks, propose solutions, and influence aircraft thermal design
Represent Shield AI in technical reviews, proposals, and customer interactions
Qualification
Required
B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related discipline
Minimum 12 years of professional experience in avionics or electronics thermal engineering
Deep expertise in heat transfer (conduction, convection, radiation) and fluid mechanics
Advanced understanding of active and passive cooling solutions and their integration at the component and system level
Advanced knowledge of thermal management techniques for aircraft bays, engine bays, and hot surfaces
Proficiency with thermal analysis and CFD tools (e.g., FloEFD, STAR-CCM+)
Proficiency with CAD design tools such as NX, SolidWorks, or similar
Demonstrated ability to apply first-principles reasoning to complex engineering problems
Ability to learn new and cutting edge materials knowledge and thermal management techniques from a variety of sources (technical papers, text books, etc.) and apply it to the development of advanced thermal management design
Strong communication and leadership skills, with experience presenting to executives and customers
You have a demonstrated record of working hard, being a trustworthy teammate, holding yourself and others to high standards, and being kind to others
Preferred
M.S. or Ph.D. in a relevant engineering discipline
Extensive experience with high-altitude aircraft thermal management, analysis, and design
Familiarity with aircraft integration constraints (power, weight, volume, maintainability, safety)
Hands-on experience with thermal and fluid system testing, instrumentation, and validation
Knowledge of materials and manufacturing methods relevant to aerospace thermal management
Experience guiding trade studies, proposals, and customer interactions in aerospace or defense programs
Background in multi-disciplinary system integration, spanning avionics, fluid systems, and systems engineering
Benefits
Bonus
Benefits
Equity
Temporary benefits package (applicable after 60 days of employment)
Company
Shield AI
Shield AI is a deep-tech company that focuses on developing AI-powered systems to enhance the safety of service members and civilians.
1001-5000 employees
H1B Sponsorship
Shield AI has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (3)
2024 (3)
2021 (1)
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageTotal Funding
$1.31BKey Investors
Hercules CapitalUS Innovative Technology FundSnowpoint Ventures
2025-03-06Series F· $240M
2023-12-29Debt Financing· $200M
2023-10-31Series F· $300M
Leadership Team
Gary Steele
Chief Executive Officer
Brandon Tseng
Co-Founder
Recent News
Washington Technology
2026-01-11
Company data provided by crunchbase